DAKAR, Senegal — A Nigerian Air Force plane made an emergency landing in Burkina Faso late Monday due to an in-flight emergency, according to a regional alliance that called it a violation of Burkina Faso's airspace.

The Alliance of Sahel States, which includes Burkina Faso and neighboring Mali and Niger, placed their air and anti-air defenses on maximum alert with authorization "to neutralize any aircraft that violates the confederation’s airspace,” according to a statement by Gen. Assimi Goita, leader of Mali's military junta.

The Nigerian Air Force confirmed Tuesday that its aircraft headed to Portugal made the emergency landing in the western city of Bobo-Dioulasso, which had the nearest airfield. The nature of the emergency was not immediately disclosed.

Ehimen Ejodame, a Nigerian

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